The Phillies' arrival to Chicago came on the heels of a three-game winning streak, the longest for the underachieving, five-time reigning National League East champs this season. But it also came shortly after the news that right-hander Vance Worley would be scratched Wednesday night in Chicago with a right elbow injury.
Although the Phils remain uncertain how long they'll be without Worley, who was placed on the 15-day disabled list, the good tidings returned when they checked into Wrigley Field on Wednesday.
An MRI on Worley's elbow showed no structural damage and the guy who pitched in his place, staff swing-man Kyle Kendrick, held Chicago to one earned run in six innings as the Phils collected their fourth straight win, a 9-2 decision over the Cubs.
Kendrick, who made three starts earlier this season in place of Cliff Lee, had a 2.12 ERA in his last three starts. The 27-year-old right-hander held a similar, sixth starter's role last season and excelled, carrying a 3.14 ERA in 15 starts.
Dating back to last season, Kendrick has allowed three earned runs or fewer in 12 of his last 13 starts.
"Tonight kind of proves his worth," manager Charlie Manuel. "He did a good job, did a super job."
While Kendrick held his own, the Phillies are hopeful they won't need more than two more starts out of him in place of Worley.
"Hopefully it's only two or three (starts he'll miss) and we'll go from there," general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said. "We have no idea how long it's going to take. We'll just see after he's re-evaluated after a week of getting shut down whether he can start throwing, and then we'll know how he feels after that, and we'll know how long it will take to get him back."
Worley is 3-2 with a 3.07 ERA in seven starts this season and is 14-5 with a 3.02 ERA in 32 games dating to last season. The Phillies are 20-8 in games Worley has started in the last two seasons.
Kyle Kendrick's career stats
| Year |
Team |
W |
L |
ERA |
G |
GS |
IP |
H |
R |
ER |
HR |
BB |
SO |
| 2007 |
Phillies |
10 |
4 |
3.87 |
20 |
20 |
121.0 |
129 |
53 |
52 |
16 |
25 |
49 |
| 2008 |
Phillies |
11 |
9 |
5.49 |
31 |
30 |
155.2 |
194 |
103 |
95 |
23 |
57 |
68 |
| 2009 |
Phillies |
3 |
1 |
3.42 |
9 |
2 |
26.1 |
27 |
11 |
10 |
1 |
9 |
15 |
| 2010 |
Phillies |
11 |
10 |
4.73 |
33 |
31 |
180.2 |
199 |
103 |
95 |
26 |
49 |
84 |
| 2011 |
Phillies |
8 |
6 |
3.22 |
34 |
15 |
114.2 |
110 |
50 |
41 |
14 |
30 |
59 |
| 2012 |
Phillies |
0 |
3 |
5.96 |
9 |
4 |
25.2 |
34 |
20 |
17 |
4 |
9 |
16 |
| 6
Seasons |
43 |
33 |
4.47 |
136 |
102 |
624.0 |
693 |
340 |
310 |
84 |
179 |
291 |